Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-01

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

Five months ago, you started renting an apartment on a six-month agreement. You now wish to stay in the apartment for longer than the six months you originally agreed with the owner.

Write a letter to the owner of your apartment. In your letter

• say how long you now want to rent the apartment for
• explain why your plans have changed
• tell the owner about a problem in the apartment

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ....................................,

Student answer (Band 7.5)

Dear Mr. Josh,

Hereby, I am writing to bring to your attention my change in plans for renting your apartment for the longer term than written in the lease agreement. Originally, the term was six months, but I would like to extend six more months into it making it a whole one year of contract.

Initially, I chose half a year term as I wanted a place near my college and your apartment fulfils that need being at a walking distance from my institution. The reason I want to extend my stay is that I have chosen few more courses for the upcoming semester at the same university.

Additionally, I would also like to tell you that the shower head in the main bathroom is leaking since last few days. As you have always been cooperative with the repairs required in the suite; thus, I am hopeful that you will look into this matter as soon as possible. Thanking you in advance! Feel free to write back to me in case you need any further information from my side.

Yours Truly,

Gursagar Singh

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly state the desired extension period, provide a logical reason for the change in plans (enrolling in additional courses), and report the maintenance issue regarding the shower head. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a landlord, and the purpose of the communication is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-developed and relevant, meeting the requirements for a Band 7 or higher. To reach the highest bands, ensure that the opening and closing are perfectly aligned with the formal register required for this type of correspondence.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized, with each paragraph focusing on a specific requirement of the task. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from the request to the explanation and finally the maintenance issue. You use cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'Additionally', and 'As you have always been' to link your sentences effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate, which helps the reader follow your argument easily. The structure is clear and professional, demonstrating a good command of organizational features suitable for a formal letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message with precision. Phrases like 'bring to your attention', 'lease agreement', and 'cooperative with the repairs' are well-chosen and appropriate for the context. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it lacks some of the more sophisticated or idiomatic collocations that would characterize a Band 8 or 9 response. However, there are no significant errors in word choice, and the language used is natural and fits the formal tone of the letter perfectly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. For example, 'As you have always been cooperative with the repairs required in the suite; thus, I am hopeful...' shows an attempt at complex sentence construction. There are minor grammatical slips, such as 'leaking since last few days' (should be 'has been leaking for the last few days') and 'making it a whole one year of contract' (which is slightly awkward phrasing). Despite these minor inaccuracies, your meaning is always clear, and the errors do not impede communication. The punctuation is generally accurate throughout the text.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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